Marcella M. Scheckel

Credit Tom Larson

Marcella M. Sturm was born on October 6, 1907, in rural Springbrook, Iowa, daughter of Joseph and Antoinette (Clasen) Sturm. Marcella Sturm married Benjamin P. Scheckel on November 12, 1929, at Springbrook, Iowa. Benjamin Scheckel was born on March 29, 1906, in Jackson County, Iowa, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Scheckel. Benjamin was educated in the Springbrook, Iowa, parochial school. Benjamin and Marcella Scheckel farmed east of Springbrook, and they were members of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. After her husband's death in 1949, Marcella became a cook for the hot lunch program for SS. Peter and Paul School and later cared for the elderly in Bellevue, Iowa. Marcella was a member of the Springbrook Senior Citizens. Benjamin Scheckel, 43, died about 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, 1949, after a heart attack at his farm near Springbrook, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Springbrook, with the Rev. John Meyer officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. The Kempter Funeral Home in Bellevue, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.

     He was survived by his wife, Marcella; three sons, Adrian, Allan, and Dennis Benjamin; and six daughters, Mary Catherine, Naomi, Carma Mae, Marcianna, Doris Jean, and Judith Ann.

Marcella M. Scheckel, 86, of Springbrook, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 26, 1994, at Mill Valley Care Center in Bellevue, Iowa. Family and friends called from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 28, at Kingery-Gallagher Funeral Home in Bellevue, where there was a scripture wake service at 7:30 p.m., and before 9:30 a.m., Friday, July 29, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Springbrook, where funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Friday, with the Rev. Don Bakewell officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

     Mrs. Scheckel was survived by a son, Dennis (Sandy) Scheckel, of De Witt, Ia; six daughters, Mrs. Ferris (Mary) Sullivan, of Preston, Ia., Mrs. Lavern (Naomi) Till, of Springbrook, Ia., Mrs. Clarence (Carma) Weis, of Galena, Ill., Mrs. Roland (Marci) Hardin, of Durrant, Okla., Mrs. Steven (Doris) Trenkamp, of Preston, Ia, and Judy Scheckel, of Burnsville, N.C.; 36 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Celeste Sturm, of Dubuque, Ia., and Velma Droessler, of Kieler, Wisc. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons, and four brothers.